The Gujarat Police seems to have invented a new crime: Playing a widely popular online game-PUBG.

The cops have arrested about 10 youths for playing PUBG in Rajkot city where the game is banned.

According to PTI Report, ten people, including six college students, were arrested in Gujarat's Rajkot city in the last two days for allegedly playing the PUBG game on their mobile phones despite the police banning it.

All of them have been booked under Indian Penal Code Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and later granted bail at the police stations concerned. Section 188 IPC penalizes disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.

Rajkot Police Commissioner on 6th March had issued a notification banning the game along with MOMO Challenge. According to the Commissioner, the ban was necessary as these games were leading to violent behaviour among children and youth and that it is adversely affecting the studies and the overall behaviour, conduct and language of children, according to the police. Ahmedabad Police Commissioner has also issued a notification banning both the games in the city, citing similar reasons.

Other cities, Surat, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar have also banned the game.

Reacting to this news, the developers of the game have issued a press statement. It reads:

"PUBG MOBILE is a game. It is meant merely for entertainment and should be enjoyed in a healthy and responsible manner. In consonance with our endeavor to continue promoting responsible gaming experience, we are working on the introduction of a healthy game-play system in India to promote balanced, responsible gaming, including limiting play time for under-aged players. We were thus surprised to learn that local authorities in a few cities have decided to impose a ban on playing our game. We are working to understand the legal basis of such bans, and hope we can have a constructive dialogue with relevant authorities to explain our objectives and that they withdraw the prohibition. To PUBG MOBILE players, we want to assure you that we are on your side and we will try our best to find a reasonable solution."

PlayerUnknown's Battle Grounds

PUBG is also one of the most popular online games in the world as almost 400 million players play the game worldwide. The online game has up to one hundred players parachute onto an island and scavenge for weapons and equipment to kill others while avoiding getting killed themselves. The available safe area of the game's map decreases in size over time, directing surviving players into tighter areas to force encounters. The last player or team standing wins the round.

PIL In Bombay HC

In Maharashtra, a 11-year-old boy from Mumbai, Ahad Nizam, had approached the Bombay High Court seeking ban of the game on the ground that it promotes immoral conduct such as violence, murder, aggression, looting, gaming addiction and cyber bullying. The High court has sought the views of Government in this regard and the petition is pending.